2008, wow time fly’s when you are having fun! 2008 marks our fifth year of doing ministry. It is hard to believe that
A new year always seems to bring new beginnings, goals, and visions. Sadly, I saw a statistic just today that said 95% of all New Year’s resolutions fail and/or are aborted by January 31st. So in this month’s blog I would like to explore of goals for 2008 … I will stay way from the trap door of call them New Year’s resolutions.
Here are some personal goals for 2008:
- Put my faith into action
- Love others the way Jesus did (the best I can)
- Grow as a speaker and teacher
- Work out
- Eat better
- Read an average of 1 book a month throughout the year
- Implement a fasting program into my prayer life
- Budget more money to one day buy a home
- Work on being a better husband
- Ride more
Some goals for panicREV in 2008:
1) Build up a core team for Relevant, our weekly Bible study
2) Build upon panicREV’s ministry team
3) Focus on discipleship
4) Consistently be at the track and at races
5) Enable people to put their faith into action (give other more of an opportunity to serve)
6) Continue to build and grow the website and online community
7) Begin to close the gap between panicREV and Relevant
Here are a few more details on each goal.
Build up a core team for Relevant
We are currently exploring the idea of planting a church out of what God has been doing through our Thursday night Bible study. One of the first things we need to establish will be a core team of committed individuals.
Build upon panicREV’s ministry team
There are two huge volunteer positions we need to fill as soon as possible. The first is a Fundraising & Event Coordinator. This position will require someone to plan and coordinate panicREV events and develop, organize, and implement fundraising programs. Additionally, the Fundraising and Events Coordinator will establish and maintain effective relationships with current and potential donors in order to develop these individuals into committed long-term supporters of panicREV. This person must have the ability to build relationships and work as part of a team. Finally, personal integrity and commitment to panicREV’s vision, mission and values are encouraged.
The second is a Communications and Marking Director. This person will be responsible for communication via emails, press releases, and newsletters about current updates on panicREV. Strong organizational and proofreading skills required in addition to excellent verbal and written communication skills. A candidate should be proficient with Microsoft Word and have regular access to email. The ability to gather information from various team members and compile messages is essential.
Filling these two position is going to be a key to us growing and reaching a lot of our goals in 2008!
Moreover, we want to give more ownership to those that are already involved with the ministry. I honestly get tired of hearing I own panicREV or even worse, I am panicREV. I am simply the one that God called to start panicREV. I think God wants it to first and foremost be given to Him and used by Him to enable His people to impact the motocross community for Christ. I would love people to think of panicREV as a committed group of Godly men and women working together to love others in the name of Jesus. For example, this year Bob McCue took ownership when he shared and helped implement his idea of monthly fellowship rides, now known as Joyful Noise.
Enable people to put their faith into action
This is strongly linked to the goal above. However, this is something that the Lord has placed heavy on my heart and is just a reminder that we all need to be proactive in our faith and in this ministry. We really want to give people the opportunity to serve and share their faith. If we call ourselves Christians we are a constant witness. In 2008 we really want to give purpose to that witness and enable people to share their faith through their relationships and presence at the track and around the motocross community as a full door to witness. Doors to witness are opening all around: at work, at the track, at our Thursday night Bible study. We really want to enable people to be active in their faith as they share life with people in this community.
Focus on discipleship
I am currently looking for people to disciple throughout the coming year. This goal is strongly linked to the core group goal. Hopefully the Relevant core group will be developed out of the discipleship program we hope to implement in 2008.
Consistently be at the race track
When we first started panicREV, getting out to the track and leading prayer and devotionals was a huge step towards growth. In 2007 we started our weekly Bible study and that really took away from the time we could commit at the race track. In 2008 I hope to continue to be committed to Relevant yet be much more of a presence at the track. Taking the church to the people is a huge part of who we are. We are currently talking to a few people about possibly helping us and representing us at their own local track(s). Hopefully everything works out and you will see us all over
Continue to build and grow the website and online community
Our website is the largest inlet into the ministry—in fact that might be to a fault to some extent (some people do not realize we are a ministry and simply know us for our website). Nevertheless it is a starting point; an open door that leads to relationship. When we first started, the website got about 15 hits a day. That soon grew to 50, then 100, and now we are getting well over 300 hits a day and over 10,000 a month. God has no doubt done and is continually doing something special through the panicrev.org website!
With that said, God is also doing something special through our message board and myspace page. Our message board currently has almost 250 active members. Not only has God grown us in numbers but there is true relationship being built there. It has been amazing to watch friendships planted and grow; people all over the country connect and fellowship about their love for the Lord and motocross, share experiences, struggles, heartache, triumph, and witness. Both myspace and the message board have been huge blessings. If you are not a part of it I would encourage you to join in. It is a great way to stay connected to the body and in touch with the movement!
Okay, here are some specific goals for the website. #1 – raise money for a new website. We feel that the website traffic and community warrants the investment needed to bring the community a top of the line website. In 2008 we hope to raise enough money to make this a reality in 2009. #2 – find a webmaster. I am currently doing all of the website updates. This is one of the things I really feel I need to let go of in order to help push and grow the ministry in different areas. Therefore, finding a webmaster is a top priority. #3 – grow our content. There is no other Christian website in the motocross community doing what we do: from interviews with Christians in the industry to photography. We are in many ways the Christian voice in the motocross community. So, in 2008 we hope to bring more stories, more photos, more videos, and more teaching on relevant issues.
Begin to close the gap between panicREV and Relevant
For whatever reason a gap has formed between what is going on Thursday nights at Relevant and the rest of panicREV. We have formed two separate groups. In 2008 we hope to bridge that gap with some joint events and push our Joyful Noise rides more on the guys and gals coming Thursday nights.
My 2008 prayer for the entire mototocross community, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” ( Ephesians 1:18-19).
